IMAGINE the situation – a woman going through the menopause, trapped in a marriage to a man she no longer loves, channels all her affection and care into her son. Now he is about to get married and move away, and she can see no future without him.
Kay Mellor’s multi-faceted play digs deep into the female psyche and the role of Betty is a gift for any actress with the ability to bring out the many layers of her character’s personality. Lin Denning has that ability in spades, and as she moved on her journey from despair to hope the audience was with her every step of the way.
She was well supported by her fellow performers, and there were excellent characterisations from Mark Lange as her son, Mark, Frank Holden as husband Donald and Alan Colclough as Craze, her former lover.
The action of the play takes place in the attic and on the roof of a northern suburban house, both of which were superbly depicted by a fine set, and the transition from one to the other was outstanding.
Tanya Alexander’s skilled direction built the pace well, and the manic final moments were beautifully controlled. A triumph.

Linda Kirkman
Courtesy of the Bournemout Daily Echo


A PASSIONATE Woman, produced by Castle Players last week, was written by northern writer, Kay Mellor who penned the BBC drama Band of Gold.
It is a superbly funny play centred round Betty (Lin Denning), and her reminiscences of her lost lover Craze, who was played by Castle Players stalwart, Alan Colclough. Craze was shot by his wife, following her discovery of his philandering.
As settings go, this was an innovative one. The entire action takes place in the attic of Betty and Donald (Frank Holden), on the wedding day of their son Mark (Mark Lange).
Betty, caught up in her daydreaming, doesn't want to attend her son's wedding, as she is fearful of being left alone with an unloving husband. Mark attempts to talk her down, and the more frantic he becomes, the more Betty'r resolve is strengthened.
The story takes a supernatural twist. As she is looking through an old case, Betty finds a dress she used to wear when meeting her lover Craze. Suddenly his ghost appeats and he tries to persuade her to come with him and leave her unhappiness behind her.
Once again a strong performance by the Lytchett Matravers based theatre group, and an innovative use of the stage which brough a warm and enthusiastic response from the audience.

Russell Harness
Courtesy of the Broadstone & Poole Community Magazine

The imaginative set and the cast (clockwise) - Lin Denning, Frank Holden, Mark Lange and Alan Colclough.